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Fighting which broke out in December 2010 in some parts of Darfur between the Government of Sudan's forces and armed opposition groups has continued to displace people in 2011. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), an estimated 66,000 IDPs have arrived in camps in North and South Darfur since January, including at least 53,000 people arriving in and around Zam Zam camp near El Fasher, the regional capital of North Darfur.

Some of these people were newly displaced while others were already displaced and living in other camps. The rapid arrival of so many IDPs at Zam Zam, one of Darfur's largest camps, has put considerable strain on the basic services and resources available in the camp.

At least 1.9 million people have been displaced by the Darfur conflict, which started in 2003 when government forces and allied militias began fighting rebel groups that wanted greater autonomy for the arid and impoverished region.